St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-05
A MOTH R,N MISERY.
She Believes Her Daug ter Deceiv,
and NJ altreated by n Brute.

She Believes Her Daug liter Deceived
and Maltreated by n Brute.
Mrs. Mary Retzel, an East side resident of
rather prepossessiEg appearance, visited the
Office of the clerk of the district court yester-
day afternoon in somewhat excited state,
and while there unfolded a tale of exceeding
interest and one which may result in sensa-
tional developments With tears streaming
down her face she said she wanted to look up
the records Of the supposed marriage Of her
daughter, Mary S. Retzel, to Joseph g. Girard
in 1882. An examination of the records was
made aud from them it appeared that such
license had been duly secured by Girard, who
Swore that the girl he intended to marry was
over Is years of age. The license bore the
date Sept. Is There were no records, how
ever, that any return on the license had ever
been made as the law requires shall be done
inside of thirty days from the time of issuing
the license. This was the last straw, and
when Mrs. RetZel saw that no return had
been made she claSped her hands and cried
bitterly. Recovering herself, she told her
story, which is indeed sad one. She stated
that Girard had never asked her permission
to marry Mary. and that she was away from
Minneapolis when he took her daughter away.
Along in 1881 said she, ''JoSeph Girard
became acquainted with Mary, who was then
only IL years old. The two were together
frequently, and I objected strongly, partially
because Girard was so much older than Mary
he was 29-and partially because did not
consider him good company for the girl
Continuing, Mrs. Girard stated that while she
was out of the city in September, 1882, Girard
and Mary disappeared. For long time she
could get no trace of them, but finally heard
that they were living as man and wife at
French Lake. Wight county. This was in
June, 1858. Mrs. Retzel proceeded at once to
the court house and procured copy of the
marriage license, fully intending to go to a
lawyer and have Girard arrested and prose-
cuted Before seeing lawyer her friends
advised her not to have anything to do with
the law, or with lawyers, as she would surely
get beaten If she did. A few weeks later she
received most pitiful letter from her
daughter at FRENCH Lake. This settled it,
and laying aside all her scruples she started
at once for her daughter. Arriving 1T the
station she was obliged to walk some ten
miles in a terrible storm to reach the place
where her child was.
D"After reaching the place, " said Mrs. RetZel
Il found that Girard had hidden Mary, and so
could not see her. l found out, however
that the was treated in most brutal manner,
being forced to work in the fields, chop wood,
and do a mans work generally. This was
more than l could stand, and after another
attempt to see Mary returned home"
Mrs. RetZel declared that the limit of her
endurance had been reached, and now. having
found out all she could from the records, she
was gong to consult a lawyer and have
Glrard prosecuted to the full extent of the
law. She said that Girard claimed he and
Mary had been married by Rev. j. Parker, Of
Parker's Lake, but this she was inclined to
doubt, as there were no records to show it,
and she was going to fully investigate the
matter. If the parties have been married the
minister who performed the ceremony is
liable to $1,000 fine for failing to make any
return to the clerk of the court, and Mrs.
Retzel declares that if they have not been
married she will prosecute Girard for abduc
ton and perjury in swearing to the girls age.
Girard has farm at French Lake and has not
been in Minneapolis for some time.